Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1887-08-25

growing blaze behind the saw mill.
ltwas not hard TO do, although the
fire was beginning TO come up very
well when the dcspcradocs left il.
The brands could all be kicked INTO
the snow, and there was not trace
OF Il In three minutes after he got
there.
But those three minutes,
The big barn was better than
either of the small ones, because
farther from the house aud mere
easy OF entrance. Ii contained no
horses and was not even locked.
The thrcc ,ramps were inside
quickly enough, and the big one
climbed one Of the high mows.
Better ligh itup here" he said to
his friends below. "rhcy can't get
at IL to put il out Say when. L.
the saw-mill well a-goingi"
Cant say cdzackly," growled
one of the smaller rutRans. pcering
through the door. And there's q
fcllcr runnin' acrost tho field.
"lIcrc goes, then" exclaimed the
leader, as he caught up wisp Of
hay and scratched a match. Now
boys, I'm coming. Make for the
shed. Wen work It."
A slippery thing is a hay NOV,
and uncertain footing in the dark
Instead of coming down as hc went
up, the big tramp found himself
sliding, sliding hclplessly into that
twenty.foot gulf between the two
mows.
In vain he graspcd at the d-y tim.
othy and clover; nc did but scatter
his lighted wisp among the tinder-
ish masses he pulled down with him
in his fall.
Down in a half.stunncd heap, with
vast pile of kindling hay on top of
him, to- choke and stiflc him with
its smoke as he limped about in the
suiiocating darkness, aud vainly
CROPPED for way OF escape.
Bang, bang!
One Of the smaller tramps went
down amid storm oflcadcn pellets
but the other reached the shed lust
as the door Of the house swung
open, and the two mastifs bounded
out to see what he might bc doing
there.
Squire Van Nlccck and his
hands" old and young, were out
in the shortest order, and the female
part Of the household were not far
behind them; but il was too late to
save the big barn, whatever might
bc done for the others.
Well for the 'Squire's pocket that
he had built them some distance
apart.
AS for Gilbert Morse, ne was
calmly reloading his duck gun when
the Squire discovered his presence
"I'm going in minute" he re.
marked cody. Don't be in a hur.
ry. I've put out the fire at the saw.
mill, and / think peppercd that
fellow lying there by the shed. II
I'd been little quicker, / might
have saved the barn.
$50 you've been out here this
winter night loOkin' out for my
property, hev yeY" said the half.
bewildered Squire. "The barns
gone, and no mistake, but we kin
save the others"
The old Squire was Just the man
10 be steadied by an actual calamity: /:
but, while his hands" were doing
what little could be done in the way
Of fire department, he strobe
straight for the two tramps.
The one who had been in the way
Of tlae buckshot would never an.
swcr any more questions, but the
one the dogs were holding down
gave information.
Where's the man that attacked
my daughter this afternOon:" asked
the Squire sternly.
"In the barn." replied the tramp.
"But the barn's burning up, = said
the Squire.
SO is he" doggcdly returned the
ruifian, "and safvcd him right. for
gettin' me into seoh serape as
this"
Somc profanity there was. but
the dogs were taken of, and the man
was tied up.
"Oh, Gil, come into the house -
were the pleasant words that came
to the young mans ears as he stood
looking at the tramp he had shot
Not till your father asks me, -
was the half naughty response.
don be q fool, Gil Morse. lust
because am, grOwled the old man.
do rs Miily tells sc, nov and here
after. 90 right in Wen take
care Of things for sc for while but
I reckon it'll he all your'n one Of
these days
And 81 Gilbert Morse did not 20
back to the hostelry that night. and
when, few months later, at The
trial Of the captured tramp. he was
asked, care you in any matter con
nectcd with Squire Van Vleecks"
he manfuliy responded
Tie is my father-i in- law
But nothing more Was seen 81 the
big tramp, not relic OF him, until
they rebuilt The great barn tie fol.
lowing spring